University of Arts Faculty Forms Union

Full- and part-time faculty members at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia voted to form a union affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers by a 99 percent margin, they announced last week. John Woodin, a 30-year adjunct professor of photography, said in a statement that he looked forward to bargaining for health care, which was discontinued for adjuncts five years ago, among other issues.

The university said in a statement, “We trust our faculty as thoughtful scholars and creatives and support their decision about what they want for their future. University of the Arts’ current community of approximately 370 faculty are an integral part of not only the university’s success, but also the cultural production and success of our city. We look forward to continuing to work as a community toward our mission of advancing human creativity.”